Emerald Dawn 

Eyvind Earle created this landscape, Emerald Dawn, using the medium of serigraphy, also known as screen-printing. A process, related to stenciling, that allows for precise, flat planes of color. Looking closely, we can see how the screen-printing process dictates the image’s appearance. The sharp delineation of shapes and colors gives the image its graphic quality. Earle would have needed to prepare a separate screen for each color, layering them to create the final image. The material qualities of ink contribute to the smoothness of the surface. The work evokes mass production and commercial aesthetics more than fine art. The artist worked as a background painter for Walt Disney, imbuing the natural world with heightened stylization. Emerald Dawn challenges our notions of the division of labor, design, and artistic expression. Earle created works that were widely accessible, yet born out of a deeply skilled process. This picture asks us to consider what we value in art, and how making informs meaning.